Physicochemical and Biological Aspects of Proteins at Interfaces

The Effect of Monomolecular Spreading on the Antigenicity of the Soluble Surface Proteins of Paramecium

“…A number of workers have reported qualitative results showing that monomolecular films removed from the AjW interface and fixed on specially prepared slides manifest specific antigenicity (see reviews by Rothen (1946), Cumper and Alexander (1951), and Cheesman and Davies (1954)). It should be noted that immunological testing of these preparations was always done at what is in fact a solid-water interface and if the number of anchorage points per molecule were relatively small a part of the tertiary structure of the molecule could reform, sufficient to complex with at least some of the specific antibody.…”

The Effect of Ultraviolet Light on the Sodium and Potassium Composition of Resting Yeast Cells

“…Absorption of UV by proteins is attended by many changes, one being protein denaturation--an unfolding of the molecule, exposing charged groups (13,30). The increase in surface potential of irradiated (235 to 253.7 rap) protein monolayers is a further indication of the photochemical release of charged groups (8,27) including acid and basic groups 08). The exposure of charged groups by UV action might possibly explain some of the changes in cell ionic content observed.…”

Structure and Surface Properties of Protein Monolayers

“…As might be expected, the entropy of surface denaturation is greater for a given protein spread at an oil-water interface than at an air-water interface. The difference is due to the removal, by the penetrating oil phase, of cohesive van der Waals forces between vertically oriented hydrophobic side chains (38).…”

“…Hydrophobic groups will tend, as far as it is possible sterically, to escape from the water into the interior of the molecule, where through the action of strong cohesive forces, they will bind the molecule tightly together (38). Unfolding of the molecules uncovers these hydrophobic groups (42); for unfolding to occur the spreading forces must overcome this internal cohesion.…”